Parasail

If you’re looking for a fun, cheap, and relatively safe way to see the world from the vantage point of a bird, then parasailing is for you. It’s a sport that can be enjoyed by the casual participant over water along coasts and large lakes the world over.

Parasailing involves a person in a harness being attached to a parachute like sail, then being towed behind a moving vehicle to be lifted aloft. A parasail shouldn’t be confused with a parachute however; the parasail is designed to be more stable in flight and is unable to be controlled by the pilot, whereas a true parachute can be controlled as to direction of flight and rate of descent.

The first parasail was developed by a French inventor in 1961, largely for the purpose of training parachutists, as they could be towed to a low altitude and released to practice landings, a lot more cheaply than having to use a plane for the purpose. As ever, it didn’t take long for entrepreneurs to adapt the concept into a way of making money from tourists.

Making It Happen

Parasail operators can be found at almost any resort area near a body of water. As the business only requires some parasails and a boat, they are extremely easy and economical to operate. Parasailing can also be done over land, with the towing being done by cars and trucks, but this is a bit less common, mostly done by competitive parasailers and enterprising rednecks.

Parasailing is safe, it takes little training to do, heck, even Walt Disney World offers it. So if you’re looking for a thrilling, affordable, and quite safe way to fly, give parasailing a try.